Carriage and rail assembly for a high-resolution mechanical positioner

ABSTRACT

A carriage and rail assembly for a high-resolution mechanical positioner suitable for application to apparatus such as optical benches, inspection fixtures, machine tools and photography fixtures for effecting extreme position accuracy and resolution with low friction. The mechanical positioner may include an adjustable top plate or slide block mounted in parallel relation with respect to a baseplate or carriage block by means of mounting rods. Carriage rods or tracks extend perpendicular to the mounting rods and are fixed at opposite ends in flanges which project at right angles to opposite end portions of the baseplate or carriage block, while additional positioning rods or tracks are fixed at opposite ends in flanges which project at right angles to opposite end portions of the adjustable slide block. An actuating member by means of bushings or antifriction bearings is slidably mounted on the respective carriage and positioning rods in an arrangement in which the actuating member is mechanically coupled to the slide block through the positioning rods which are inclined in a predetermined angular relation to the carriage rods so that a horizontal positioning of the actuating member effects a vertical adjustment of the position of the slide block relative to the carriage block. The ratio of the horizontal adjustment of the actuating member relative to the vertical adjustment of the slide block is dependent upon the predetermined inclined angular relation of the positioning rods to the carriage rods in an arrangement such that the slide block may be adjusted with extreme position accuracy, resolution and with low friction.

United States Patent Bosworth et al.

[54] CARRIAGE AND RAIL ASSEMBLY FOR A HIGH-RESOLUTION MECHANICALPOSITIONER [72] inventors: Robert H. Bosworth, Convent Station;

Burton W. Roney, Wayne, both of NJ.

[73] Assignee: The Bendix Corporation [22] Filed: Jan. 28, 1970 [21]App1.No.: 6,627

Primary Examiner-William D. Martin, Jr. Att0mey-Herbert L. Davis andFlame, Arens, Hartz, Smith and Thompson 1 Feb.29,l972

[57 ABSTRACT A carriage and rail assembly for a high-resolutionmechanical positioner suitable for application to apparatus such asoptical benches, inspection fixtures, machine tools and photographyfixtures for effecting extreme position accuracy and resolution with lowfriction. The mechanical positioner may include an adjustable top plateor slide block mounted in parallel relation with respect to a baseplateor carriage block by means of mounting rods. Carriage rods or tracksextend perpendicular to the mounting rods and are fixed at opposite endsin flanges which project at right angles to opposite end portions of thebaseplate or carriage block, while additional positioning rods or tracksare fixed at opposite ends in flanges which project at right angles toopposite end portions of the adjustable slide block. An actuating memberby means of bushings or antifriction bearings is slidably mounted on therespective carriage and positioning rods in an arrangement in which theactuating member is mechanically coupled-to the slide block through thepositioning rods which are inclined in a predetermined angular relationto the carriage rods so that a horizontal positioning of the actuatingmember effects a vertical adjustment of the position of the slide blockrelative to the carriage block. The ratio of the horizontal adjustmentof the actuating member relative to the vertical adjustment of the slideblock is dependent upon the predetermined inclined angular relation ofthe positioning rods to the carriage rods in an arrangement such thatthe slide block may be adjusted with extreme position accuracy,resolution and with low friction.

6 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures Patented Feb. 29, 1912 3,645,601

4 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTORS Robe/'7 H Baswarfh Burfon 14/. HonkyfiTTORNEY Patented Feb. 29, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Robe/*7Basworf/v Buff 0/7 W E 5 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 29, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet5 E; E Z/ mm mw WWH4/ V50 w k.. H I m r :0 UUY RB HTTORNEY Patented Feb.29, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HI I mu l. IJKYI I ll MM v m M W E W T mo A mm HM wuw EB CARRIAGE AND RAIL ASSEMBLY FOR A HIGH- RESOLUTION MECHANICALPOSITIONER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention Amechanical positioner capable of high resolution and suitable forapplication to apparatus such as optical benches, inspection fixtures,machine tools and photography fixtures so as to provide a precise meansof attaining an adjustable position of a part.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore, it has been a well-knownexpedient to adjustably position a part of a block gauge as disclosed ina US. Pat. No. 3,247,598, granted Apr. 26, 1966 to Glenn E. Wilkes, andwhich block gauge includes two wedges, one being adapted for verticalmovement and the other being adapted for horizontal movement so as toeffect a height variation of the one wedge as determined by thehorizontal position of the other wedge effected by a rotatableadjustment of a threaded shaft by means of an operator-operative knob.Moreover a US. Pat. No. 2,807,881, granted Oct. 1, 1957 to MustafaOzbilgic, teaches an adjustable step block gauge which functions in amanner similar to the gauge disclosed by the Wilkes U.S. Pat. No.3,247,598, but in which there is employed a clamping member for securinga workpiece in a position determined by that of an adjustable stepblock.

Furthermore a US. Pat. No. 2,867,909, granted Jan. 13, 1959 to Karl L.Keller, discloses a parallel gauge in which a slide member is mountedfor vertical movement on a gauge base member and locked in position byan operator-operative knob, while a U.S. Pat. No. 1,562,554, grantedNov. 24, 1925 to George J. l-lardgrove, teaches a height gauge includinga block that is mounted for slidable movement along an inclined face ofa base member and in which a micrometer is provided for precisemeasurement.

Moreover there has been noted a US. Pat. No. 2,743,527, granted May 1,1956 to Donald 1. Gens, in which there is disclosed a height gaugeemploying sliding wedge surfaces for varying the heighth of the gaugetool, while a US. Pat. No. 3,359,055, granted Dec. 19, 1967 to Bjorn O.Krause, discloses an automatic focusing device for a microscopeincluding a slide platform which includes a graduated scale that isadapted for movement with respect to a focusing wedge which is securedto a platform.

The prior operative arrangement and assembly of a block gauge includeswedges adapted for effecting a vertical movement of one block upon ahorizontal adjustment of another block. Such arrangement in which theone block is mounted for slidable movement on an inclined surface facethereof along an inclined surface face of the other block is inherentlysubject to the attendant friction involved in the adjustment of the oneinclined surface face along the other inclined surface face, togetherwith the disadvantages in complexity, size of the assembly and in theoperation thereof.

In such prior art references, there is no suggestion of a carriage andrail assembly for a high-resolution mechanical positioner in which anadjustable top plate or slide block is slidably mounted on rods carriedby a base or carriage block so that the slide block may be adjustablypositioned in relation to the carriage block by means of an actuatingmember coupled to the slide block. The actuating member is in turndrivably mounted for slidable adjustment in one sense on a pair ofcarriage rods fixedly mounted on one of the blocks and extending inparallel relation thereto. Moreover the actuating member is alsoslidably mounted on a pair of positioning rods or tracks carried by theother of said blocks and extending in a predetermined inclined angularrelation to the carriage rods. The arrangement is such that upon theactuating member being adjustably positioned on the pair of carriagerods extending in parallel relation to the baseplate, there will bemechanically coupled through the inclined angularly extending pair ofpositioning rods carried by the other of said blocks 5 respectivecarriage and positioning rods.

Furthermore there is no suggestion in the prior art references of anoperator-operative setscrew means cooperating in the manner hereinprovided with one of the pair of carriage rods to lock the actuatingmember and thereby the adjustable slide block in a predeterminedadjusted position.

Moreover the present invention rests in a conception which simplifiesthe assembly of a mechanical positioner by the provision of a novelactuating member arranged in slidable l relation with a pair of carriagebars carried by a baseplate and a pair of inclined positioning tracks orbars carried by an adjustable top plate or slide block. Furthermore theassembly of the present invention is such as to raise the percent ofdurability and certainty of operation of the mechanical positioner so asto effect a condition of extreme position accuracy and resolution withlow friction and one which is more sure to produce the desired result inemergency and not only with greater certainty, but with less expense.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention contemplates the provision of ahigh-resolution mechanical positioner in which one part may beadjustably positioned in one sense relative to another part byadjustably positioning an actuating member in another senseperpendicular to the first-mentioned sense and in which arrangement theactuating member includes antifriction bearing means for slidablymounting the actuating member on a pair of rods carried by and extendingin parallel relation to said one part of the mechanical'positioner,together with other antifriction bearing means for mounting theactuating member on a pair of other rods extending in a predeterminedangular inclined relation to the first-mentioned rods carried by theother of the parts of the mechanical positioner. Thus one of the partsof the mechanical positioner is slidably mounted by additionalantifriction bearing means on rods carried by the other part of themechanical positioner so that the adjustable positioning of the one partrelative to the other part is limited to the movement of the partsrelative one to the other in said first-mentioned sense upon theadjustable positioning of the actuating member in said second-mentionedsense being perpendicular to said first sense.

The invention contemplates as another object, the provision in theaforenoted arrangement of spring means for biasing the actuating memberin said second sense into operative relation to an adjustably positionedpart of a micrometer including a ball to make a point contact with asurface of the actuating member so that there may be effected extremeaccuracy and resolution in the positioning of the one part relative tothe other part and with low friction due to the carriage and railassembly of the positioner.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the aforenotedarrangement novel means whereby the adjustment of the one part relativeto the other part of the positioner may be easily made by a micrometeradjustment and in which arrangement the position of the one partrelative to the other part may be easily locked in the adjusted relationby means of a setscrew cooperating with one of the rails on which theactuating member is slidably mounted so as to in turn effectively lockthe one and the other of the parts of the mechanical positioner in anadjusted relation.

These and other objects and features of the invention are pointed out inthe following description in terms of the embodiments thereof which areshown in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood however thatthe drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not adefinition of the limits of the invention. Reference is to be had to theappended claims for this purpose.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings corresponding numeralsindicate corresponding parts in the several views:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a high-resolution mechanical positionerembodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a detail assembly of a highresolutionmechanical positioner embodying the invention and taken along the lines22 of FIGS. 1 1 and 12 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a detail side view of the adjustable top plate or slide blockshown in assembled relation in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a detail end view of the top plate or slide block of FIG. 3and which is shown in assembled relation in FIG. 11.

FIG. 5 is a detail side view of the actuating member shown in assembledrelation in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the actuating member of FIG. 5 and which isshown in assembled relation in FIG. 11.

FIG. 7 is a detail top plan view of the actuating member illustrated byFIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 is an end view of the carriage plate of FIG. 2 illustrating anend flange for supporting the micrometer shown in assembled relation inFIG. 11.

FIG. 9 is a detail side sectional view of the carriage block of FIG. 8which is shown in assembled relation in FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is an end view of the carriage block of FIG. 2 and illustratinga spring-supporting end flange shown in assembled relation in FIG. 12 atan opposite end of the carriage block from the micrometer supporting endflange of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is an end view of the mechanical positioner of FIG. 2 withcertain parts broken away so as to better illustrate the operativearrangements of the parts of the positioner.

FIG. 12 is a top plan sectional view of FIG. 11 taken along the lines12-12 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the mounting plate on the slide block ofFIG. 2 taken along the lines 1313 and looking in the direction of thearrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the form of the invention illustratedschematically by FIG. I, there is provided a baseplate or carriage block21, shown in detail by FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, in which two hardened steelrods or tracks 23 are fixed at opposite ends in end flanges 25 and 27which project at right angles to opposite end portions of the baseplate21, as shown in the detail assembly by FIGS. 2, l1 and 12. These rods 23are arranged in parallel relation one to the other and to the undersideof the baseplate 21 and further extend perpendicular to and are affixedin the end flanges 25 and 27 of the base plate 21. Four additional rodsor tracks 29 are pressed into the baseplate 21 one at each comer, asshown in detail by FIG. 12, and these tracks 29 extend parallel to eachother and perpendicular to the bottom of the baseplate or carriage block21 and perpendicular to the carriage tracks 23.

Further an adjustable top plate or slide block 31, shown in detail byFIGS. 3 and 4, is slidably mounted on tracks or rods 29 by antifrictionbearings 33 carried by the slide block 31. The mounting rods or tracks29 are shown in assembled relation by FIGS. 2 and 11.

A pair of hardened steel positioning rods or tracks 35 are fixed atopposite ends in end flanges 36 and 37 which project at right angles tothe top surface of the top plate or adjustable slide block 31. The endflanges 36 project from opposite corners at one end of the slide block31, while the end flanges 37 project from opposite corners at anopposite end of the slide block 31, as shown in detail by FIGS. 3 and 4.The ends of the positioning rods 35 are mounted in holes 30 and 32drilled at a predetermined angle in the end flanges 36 and 37respectively, so that the rods 35 extend at an inclined angle to therods 23 and to the top surface of the top plate 31, between therespective end flanges 36 and 37 and in parallel relation one to theother.

The four upright mounting posts 29 project from the carriage plate 21and are slidably mounted in the antifriction bearings 33 carried byslide block 31 so as to permit adjustment of the slide block 31 relativeto the baseplate 21 in a direction along the mounting rods 29 in apurely vertical sense, as shown by the schematic view of FIG. 1.

Positioned intermediate the base or carriage plate 21 and the top plateor slide block 31 is an actuating member 40, shown in detail by FIGS. 5,6 and '7, in which are provided antifriction bearings 42 mounted inpassages 41 formed in a base 43 of the actuating member 40 and extendinglongitudinally through the base 43 in a parallel horizontal relationsuch that the pair of carriage rods 23 may be slidably mounted in thebearings 42 and extend through the actuating member 40, as shown inassembled relation by FIGS. 2 and 12.

Further there are provided antifriction bearings 44 mounted in passages45 formed in flanges 46 which project from opposite side portions of thebase 43. The passages 45 extend longitudinally through the flanges 46 inparallel relation one to the other and are inclined in a predeterminedangular relation such that the pair of positioning rods 35 may beslidably mounted in the bearings 44 in passages 45 and extend throughthe actuating member 40 in a predetermined angular relation to thehorizontally extending carriage rods 23.

The pair of carriage rods 23 supported by the baseplate 21 and the pairof positioning tracks 35 carried by the adjustable slide block 31 are soarranged that a positioning of the actuating member 40 in a horizontalsense, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 1, will effect an adjustmentin the position of the top plate or slide block 31 relative to the baseplate 21 in a vertical sense.

Bearing upon one end surface of the actuating member 40 is an adjustableelement 50 which may be a differential screw or a micrometer head of asuitable operator-operative micrometer 52 mounted in the end flange 25of the baseplate 21 as shown schematically by FIG. 1.

Moreover, as shown by FIGS. 2 and 12, there may be attached to a freeend of the adjustable element 50, a ball 51 captured by a cap 54, shownin assembled relation in FIG. 2, while in FIG. 12 the cap 54 is shownpartially broken away. The cap 54, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 12,includes a split collar 56 having a channel 57 extending partiallyaround the collar 56 and split at 58 so that the cap 54 may beresiliently received on the free end of the adjustable element 50 sothat the ball 51 is positioned in a point-contacting relation with aflat end surface of the base 43 of the actuating member 40, asillustrated by FIGS. 2 and 12, as well as in a point contact with a flatend surface of the free end of the adjustable element 50 of themicrometer 52, as shown by FIG. 12. The micrometer 52 is secured in theend flange 25 by a setscrew 53, as shown by FIG. 11.

Further bearing upon an opposite end surface of the actuating member 40is a spring 55 which, as shown by FIG. 12, is mounted between the endflange 27 and an end surface of the base 43 of the actuating member 40by a stud 57. The stud 57 is screw threadedly engaged at 61 in the base43 of the actuating member 40 and slidably mounted at 62 in the endflange 27. The stud 57 serves as a guide for the spring 55 which provides a constant force for biasing the actuating member 40 intooperative relation with the end of the differential screw or ball 51 ofthe micrometer head 50 so that the adjusted position of the actuatingmember 40 in a horizontal sense on the carriage rods 23 and positioningrods 35, as shown by FIG. 2, may be located with extreme accuracy by theadjustment of the micrometer 52, whereby the adjusted position of thetop plate 31 in a vertical sense may be readily established.

Moreover by suitably selecting the angle that the positioning rods 35are inclined with respect to the horizontally extending carriage rods23, the ratio of the horizontally adjusted position of the actuatingmember 40 to the resultant vertically adjusted position of the top plate31 may be selected. Moreover by changing the angle that the positioningrods 35 are inclined, this ratio between the horizontally adjustedposition of the actuating member 40 to the resultant vertically adjustedposition of the top plate 31 may be readily changed.

It has been determined, by way of example, that for an angular relationof 11 30 between the horizontally extending rods 23 and the angularlyextending rods 35, the relation of the vertical motion of the top plate31 resulting upon a horizontal motion being imparted to the actuatingmember 40 is 0.200 of an inch of vertical movement of the top plate 31for each 1.000 inch of horizontal movement of the actuating member 40.

Moreover for a greater angular relation of for example an angularrelation of 14 2 between the horizontally extending rods 23 and theangularly extending rods 35, the relation of the vertical motion of thetop plate 31 resulting upon a horizontal motion being imparted to theactuating member 40 is 0.250 of an inch of vertical movement of the topplate 31 for each 1.000 inch of horizontal movement of the actuatingmember 40.

Thus as the angular relation between the rods 23 and the rods 35 isdecreased in a sense approaching the horizontal relation or angularcoincidence with that of the rods 23, the ratio of vertical motion ofthe top plate 31 to a horizontal motion imparted to the actuating member40 is effectively decreased. Thus resulting in greater resolution.

Conversely as the angular relation between the horizontally extendingrods 23 and the angularly extending rods 35 is increased in a senseapproaching 45 the ratio of vertical motion of the top plate 31 to ahorizontal motion imparted to the actuating member 40 is effectivelyincreased until as the 45 angular relationship is reached there will beeffected 1.000 inch of vertical movement of the top plate 31 for each1.000 inch of horizontal movement of the actuating member 40 or a l -to-1 relationship at which there would result no apparent advantage inresolution.

It will be seen then that the predetermined angular relation that thepositioning rods 35 extend relative to the carriage rods 23 is selectedfrom a range of angular values having a minimum value greater than thatof angular coincidence with the horizontally extending carriage rods 23and a maximum value of less than 45 so that the ratio of an increment ofadjustment imparted to the top plate or slide block 31 in a vertical orone sense relative to the carriage block 21 for each increment ofadjustment of the actuating member 40 in a horizontal or other sense isdirectly dependent upon the extent that the predetermined angularrelation exceeds that of angular coincidence with the horizontallyextending carriage rods 23. Thus there will be imparted with an increasein the selected predetermined angular relation a greater increment ofadjustment of the slide block 31 in said one sense for each increment ofadjustment of the actuating member 40 in said other sense.

On the other hand the extent of resolution in the adjustment of the topplate or slide block 31 in said one sense for each increment ofadjustment of the actuating member 40 in said other sense is directlydependent upon the extent that the predetermined angular relation isless than that of 45 so as to impart with decrease in such predeterminedangular relation a greater resolution in the increment of adjustment ofthe slide block 31 in said one sense for each increment of adjustment ofthe actuating member 40 in said other sense.

Furthermore by the provision of an adjustable setscrew 63 screwthreadedly engaged in the actuating member 40 and arranged to engage oneof the carriage tracks 23, as shown schematically in FIG. 1, theadjusted position of the actuating member 40 on the carriage tracks 23in a horizontal sense may be readily locked in a predetermined position.This in turn causes the adjusted position of the top plate 31 in avertical sense to be likewise locked in position.

Furthermore the high-resolution mechanical positioner, shownschematically by FIG. 11, may be constructed of standard parts, i.e., astandard micrometer head and standard shafts and bushings at arelatively low-manufacturing cost to effect the extreme positionaccuracy and resolution with low friction, as herein desired.

Moreover while the invention has been illustrated schematically in FIG.1, the detail structure of a mechanical positioner embodying the presentinvention is illustrated by FIGS. 2-13 in which corresponding parts havebeen indicated by like numerals to those described with reference to F1G. 1, and therefore no further explanation thereof is deemed necessary.

It may be noted however that the carriage plate 21, as shown by FIG. 2,may be suitably fastened by securing bolts 65 to a mounting assembly 66which forms no part of the present invention, while the top plate 31 mayhave secured thereto by bolts 67 a mounting plate 69 of a device to beoperatively positioned by the mechanical positioner.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mechanical positioner of a type including a carriage block and aslide block mounted in parallel relation to the carriage block andarranged to be slidably positioned in a first sense relative to thecarriage block; the improvement comprising mounting track meansprojecting from one of the blocks, first bearing means for slidablymounting another of said blocks on the mounting track means so as topermit the slide block to be adjustably positioned relative to thecarriage block in said first sense, an actuating member, carriage trackmeans mounted on one of said blocks and extending in parallel relationto said one block, positioning track means mounted on another of saidblocks and extending in a predetermined inclined angular relation to thecarriage track means, second bearing means for slidably mounting theactuating member on the carriage track means so as to permit theactuating member to be adjustably positioned thereon in a second senseperpendicular to said first sense, third bearing means for slidablymounting the actuating member on the positioning track means extendingin said predetermined inclined angular relation to said carriage trackmeans, said carriage track means and said positioning track meansextending through said actuating means in slidable relation with saidsecond and third bearing means so as to cause said positioning trackmeans extending in said predetermined inclined angular relation to saidcarriage track means to impart an adjustment to the position of saidslide block in said one sense relative to said carriage block upon theactuating member being slidably positioned in said second sense on thecarriage track means.

2. The improvement defined by claim 1 including operatoroperative meanscarried by one of said blocks for adjustably positioning said actuatingmember on said carriage track means in said second sense.

3. The improvement defined by claim 2 including anotheroperator-operative means for locking the actuating member in an adjustedposition in said second sense and thereby the slide block in an adjustedposition in said first sense relative to said carriage block.

4. The improvement defined by claim 2 in which the operatoroperativemeans carried by one of said blocks includes an adjustable elementbearing upon an end surface of the actuating member so as to limit thepositioning in said second sense of said actuating member in onedirection on said carriage track means, and spring means carried by oneof said blocks for biasing the actuating member on said carriage trackmeans in said second sense and in said one direction on said carriagetrack means into contacting relation with said adjustable ele ment ofthe operator-operative means.

5. The improvement defined by claim 2 in which the carriage track meansincludes a pair of carriage rods, first mounting flanges projecting fromopposite ends of the carriage block, the carriage rods being affixed atopposite ends in the mounting flanges and extending between the firstmounting flanges in parallel relation to the carriage block, and thepositioning track means includes a pair of positioning rods, secondmounting flanges projecting from opposite ends of the slide block, thepositioning rods being affixed at opposite ends in the second mountingflanges and extending between the second flanges in a predeterminedangular relation to the pair of carriage rods, the predetermined angularrelation being preselected from a range of angular values having aminimum angular value greater than that of angular coincidence with thepair of carriage rods and a maximum angular value of less than that of45", one of the positioning rods extending at one side of the carriagerods and another of the positioning rods extending at an opposite sideof the carriage rods, the second bearing means slidably mounting theactuating member on the pair of carriage tracks extending between saidfirst mounting flanges and through the actuating member, the thirdbearing means slidably mounting the actuating member on the pair ofpositioning tracks extending through said actuating member in saidpredetermined angular relation to said carriage tracks and between saidsecond mounting flanges, and the operatoroperative means includesadjustable means carried by said first mounting flanges and extendingbetween said pair of carriage rods into operative relation with oppositeends of the ac tuating member to slidably position the actuating memberon said pair of carriage tracks in said second sense upon operation ofthe adjustable means of the operator-operative means, the positioning ofthe actuating member in said second sense causing the third bearingmeans slidably mounting the actuating member on the inclined positioningrods to impart through the pair of positioning rods an adjustment in theposition of the slide block on the mounting track means in said firstsense, the ratio of the adjustment imparted to the slide block in saidfirst sense upon adjustment of the actuating member in said second sensebeing dependent upon the predetermined angular relation of the pair ofpositioning rods to the pair of carriage rods extending between thefirst mounting flanges and in parallel relation to the carriage block.

6. The improvement defined by claim 5 in which the adjustable meanscarried by said first mounting flanges includes an operator-operativemicrometer carried by one of said first mounting flanges and including ahead element adjustably positioned by the micrometer to effectivelylimit the position in said second sense of the actuating member in onedirection, and spring means carried by the other of said first mountingflanges for biasing the actuating member in said second sense inslidable relation on said pair of carriage rods in said one directioninto the limited relation with the head element as adjustably positionedby the micrometer.

1. In a mechanical positioner of a type including a carriage block and aslide block mounted in parallel relation to the carriage block andarranged to be slidably positioned in a first sense relative to thecarriage block; the improvement comprising mounting track meansprojecting from one oF the blocks, first bearing means for slidablymounting another of said blocks on the mounting track means so as topermit the slide block to be adjustably positioned relative to thecarriage block in said first sense, an actuating member, carriage trackmeans mounted on one of said blocks and extending in parallel relationto said one block, positioning track means mounted on another of saidblocks and extending in a predetermined inclined angular relation to thecarriage track means, second bearing means for slidably mounting theactuating member on the carriage track means so as to permit theactuating member to be adjustably positioned thereon in a second senseperpendicular to said first sense, third bearing means for slidablymounting the actuating member on the positioning track means extendingin said predetermined inclined angular relation to said carriage trackmeans, said carriage track means and said positioning track meansextending through said actuating means in slidable relation with saidsecond and third bearing means so as to cause said positioning trackmeans extending in said predetermined inclined angular relation to saidcarriage track means to impart an adjustment to the position of saidslide block in said one sense relative to said carriage block upon theactuating member being slidably positioned in said second sense on thecarriage track means.
 2. The improvement defined by claim 1 includingoperator-operative means carried by one of said blocks for adjustablypositioning said actuating member on said carriage track means in saidsecond sense.
 3. The improvement defined by claim 2 including anotheroperator-operative means for locking the actuating member in an adjustedposition in said second sense and thereby the slide block in an adjustedposition in said first sense relative to said carriage block.
 4. Theimprovement defined by claim 2 in which the operator-operative meanscarried by one of said blocks includes an adjustable element bearingupon an end surface of the actuating member so as to limit thepositioning in said second sense of said actuating member in onedirection on said carriage track means, and spring means carried by oneof said blocks for biasing the actuating member on said carriage trackmeans in said second sense and in said one direction on said carriagetrack means into contacting relation with said adjustable element of theoperator-operative means.
 5. The improvement defined by claim 2 in whichthe carriage track means includes a pair of carriage rods, firstmounting flanges projecting from opposite ends of the carriage block,the carriage rods being affixed at opposite ends in the mounting flangesand extending between the first mounting flanges in parallel relation tothe carriage block, and the positioning track means includes a pair ofpositioning rods, second mounting flanges projecting from opposite endsof the slide block, the positioning rods being affixed at opposite endsin the second mounting flanges and extending between the second flangesin a predetermined angular relation to the pair of carriage rods, thepredetermined angular relation being preselected from a range of angularvalues having a minimum angular value greater than that of angularcoincidence with the pair of carriage rods and a maximum angular valueof less than that of 45*, one of the positioning rods extending at oneside of the carriage rods and another of the positioning rods extendingat an opposite side of the carriage rods, the second bearing meansslidably mounting the actuating member on the pair of carriage tracksextending between said first mounting flanges and through the actuatingmember, the third bearing means slidably mounting the actuating memberon the pair of positioning tracks extending through said actuatingmember in said predetermined angular relation to said carriage tracksand between said second mounting flanges, and the operator-operativemeans includes adjustable means carried by said first mounting fLangesand extending between said pair of carriage rods into operative relationwith opposite ends of the actuating member to slidably position theactuating member on said pair of carriage tracks in said second senseupon operation of the adjustable means of the operator-operative means,the positioning of the actuating member in said second sense causing thethird bearing means slidably mounting the actuating member on theinclined positioning rods to impart through the pair of positioning rodsan adjustment in the position of the slide block on the mounting trackmeans in said first sense, the ratio of the adjustment imparted to theslide block in said first sense upon adjustment of the actuating memberin said second sense being dependent upon the predetermined angularrelation of the pair of positioning rods to the pair of carriage rodsextending between the first mounting flanges and in parallel relation tothe carriage block.
 6. The improvement defined by claim 5 in which theadjustable means carried by said first mounting flanges includes anoperator-operative micrometer carried by one of said first mountingflanges and including a head element adjustably positioned by themicrometer to effectively limit the position in said second sense of theactuating member in one direction, and spring means carried by the otherof said first mounting flanges for biasing the actuating member in saidsecond sense in slidable relation on said pair of carriage rods in saidone direction into the limited relation with the head element asadjustably positioned by the micrometer.